The CMOS battery (ST Micro M4T28-BR12SH1) ran out a while ago, and now it doesn't just complain about preposterous time and kernel in the future, it actually forgot it's serial number. The MAC address changed to 12:34:56:78:9a:bc so it was promptly kicked off the network. This also invalidated the FLEXlm licenses installed.

I don't use this Fuel very often, but I still ordered a new CMOS battery for it. Looks like I'll have to borrow the L2 form the O350 to fix this?

*sigh* Seems like SGI really didn't think ahead with respect to having a cleaner way of fixing these issues.I've been supplying parts to companies globally who are still using SGIs after more than 20 years, back toPersonal IRIS. There are still loads in use out there (mainly medical, industrial control, defense and infrastructuresetups, though a few for performance-related tasks where sw license issues preclude a move to newer kit); Fuelis used for medical scanners. Atm it's just power supplies and the odd RAM module problem cropping up (I senta PSU to a hospital in India last month), but eventually such institutions are going to be in a right old bind tryingto sort these things out when they the kind of problems jan-jaap is going through.

IMO SGI should back-release some kind of fix for this, eg. a program to sw-override the lic code setting, etc.,and then declare the old IRIX systems as defunct and 'open' or somesuch. I'm sure it's possible.

In some cases companies can eventually move to newer PC-based systems, despite the signicantexpense, but others just can't for other reasons, eg. original sw vendor is gone, or support hw isn'tcompatible, etc.

Ian.

I'm working on a charitable PC build for the Learn Engineering YouTube channel. Please PM/email/call if you'd like to contribute!Donations of any kind of item I can sell to provide funds are also most welcome.mapesdhs@yahoo.com+44 (0)7434 635 121

Well, at least on this system I won't have to dremel anything when the battery inevitably runs out. Although this design is probably because of environmental rules that dictate that all batteries must be removable, and had nothing to do with easier service in the long term.

Now, if only they would have used CR2032 cells like everyone else.

To accentuate the special identity of the IRIS 4D/70, Silicon Graphics' designers selected a new color palette. The machine's coating blends dark grey, raspberry and beige colors into a pleasing harmony. (IRIS 4D/70 Superworkstation Technical Report)

But anyway, there are two batteries. What if it's not just the yellow battery that ran out, but the DALLAS as well? And the DALLAS is what backs up the L1, while the yellow one is only for the timekeeper? Even if I could change the SSN, it would be gone the first time power is disconnected.

Think I'll leave it disconnected over the weekend to see which functionality it looses -- L1 or RTC. I have the feeling it's going to be the L1 and some DALLAS surgery is due I mean, it had been complaining about preposterous times etc etc for a year or so before all of this went belly up.

Which leaves the question: how the hell am I supposed to change the SSN and restore my MAC address??

Battery backed RAM is a bitch

To accentuate the special identity of the IRIS 4D/70, Silicon Graphics' designers selected a new color palette. The machine's coating blends dark grey, raspberry and beige colors into a pleasing harmony. (IRIS 4D/70 Superworkstation Technical Report)

jan-jaap wrote: I realized this thing has a DALLAS chip as well (DS1742W), plus an ATMEL chip which is assumed to hold the SSN.

So it has not one, but two batteries which can (and probably have) run out

Hope this is peripherally useful ... it's been quite a while but I'm pretty sure that you have to move the Atmel and the Dallas to change mac addresses. I think I discovered that when trying to put together a frankenfool with a few nodelocked licenses.

I spent a fortune on booze, birds, and fast cars ... the rest I just squandered

Having to deal with an old prototype for a business project is a "no-go" for me since there are too probability of being stopped by a dead/defective hardware or simply a device whose behavior might be unexpected.

There is a reason if they are called "prototypes", it's not just because the plastic is blue and a "turbo-air" decoration appears on the air-tube